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Monday, August 14, 2017

Please welcome to M&MM the author of the Clock Shop Mysteries, Julianne Holmes. She will have a new series, Theater Cop, start the end of this year. I reviewed her most recent book, Chime and Punishment (click here.)

FOR THE LOVE OF CLOCKSWhenever I explain the premise of my clock shop series—that Ruth Clagan is part of a clock making family who owns a shop in the Berkshires—most people smile, and then they tell me about a clock in their family. Everyone has a clock in their family, I’ve discovered.For me, it is a mantle clock. I inherited it from my grandmother—a Telechron electric clock that looks a bit like a Seth Thomas. It likely dates from the 50’s, isn’t worth a fortune, but means the world to me. Of course, given the work I’ve done on these books, I am looking for a traditional clock that I must wind.For some people, longcase clocks are passed down from generation to generation. Keeping them running can be a challenge, especially if they haven’t been moved carefully or maintained over time. Clockmakers will come in and do a house call to determine what the best course of treatment is for the clock. Now, folks trusted in the craft are few, and I’ve heard stories of people inviting clockmakers to travel or traveling to them for a consult.Over the course of writing these books, I have fallen a bit in love with Banjo clocks (click here). Simon Willard invented these here in Massachusetts, and patented them in 1802. They continue to be made today. The clock is shaped like a banjo, with a square case on the bottom that can be clear, or can be painted decoratively.Then there are the Seth Thomas miniatures (click here). I spent a day in the American Clock and Watch museum (click here), and these beauties stopped me in my tracks. Made of different types of wood, different shapes. I can easily see becoming obsessed with them.I’m sure that there are family banjo clocks, or mantel clocks, or miniatures, or carriage clocks, or others that have been passed on from generation to generation. Do they still work? Hopefully yes, though many could use a good cleaning. While doing my research, and talking to Dave Roberts of the Clockfolk of New England (click here), I’ve come to realize a few things about clock repair. First, that it is a craft that takes years to learn. Second, repair means different things to different people. For some folks, to hold value, that means painstaking authentic repair. For others, it means doing what it takes to get the clock working. The repair may cost more than the value of the clock, but that’s the third thing I’ve learned. Clocks own a place in people’s hearts, and that is priceless.Do you have a family clock that has been passed down? Does a clock have a place in your memories? BIOJulianne Holmes writes the Clock Shop Mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime. As J.A. Hennrikus, her Theater Cop series will debut in the fall of 2017 with A Christmas Peril. She has short stories in three Level Best anthologies, Thin Ice, Dead Calm and Blood Moon. She is on the board of Sisters in Crime, and is a member of MWA and Sisters in Crime New England. She blogs with the Wicked Cozy Authors and Killer Characters. JHAuthors.com | Twitter: @JHAuthors | Instagram: @jahenn~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~Thank you Ms. Holmes. I love the ornate craftsmanship of some french clocks, but sadly I don't have a clock that was handed down. At one point growing up, we had a grandfather clock with the weights that actually worked and winding it. It had beautiful chimes.

Saturday, August 12, 2017

Mystery series, "On Her Majesty's Frightfully Secret Service".Giveaway entry lasts until Friday August 18 6:00 p.m. (MST). U.S. entries only please.I will be shipping the book to the winner.How to enter:*** First, you must be a member (follower) of this blog.***All entries are to be in the comments for this post.I shall notify each winner via the email address you provide to get your mailing address and have the prize sent directly to you. If I don't hear from you in 3 days, I will select another winner and notify them.** IF you are a member (or email subscriber) of this blog, you only need to leave a comment with your correct email.BECOME a member (or email subscriber) of this blog if you aren't already and enjoy the celebration of all things mystery and suspense.Good Luck!

I reviewed the debut novel in this new series, Just Killing Time (click here), 2nd book Clock and Dagger (click here) and had a guest post from the author (click here). It has the running theme of a clock shop and all things fine clocks. Check out this addition to the series.

From the book cover: "Years ago, the serenity of picturesque Orchard, Massachusetts, was shattered by a fire that destroyed the town's beloved clock tower. Ruth inherited the dream of repairing it from her late grandfather. Now that she’s returned home to run his clock shop, the Cog & Sprocket, she’s determined to make it happen, despite wrenches that are being thrown into the works by her least favorite person, town manager Kim Gray.A crowd of residents and visitors are excited to see the progress of the tower at a fund-raiser for the campaign, until Kim is found crushed under the tower’s bell, putting an end to all the fun. The list of suspects is so long it could be read around the clock, and it includes some of Ruth’s nearest and dearest.Time's a-wastin’ as Ruth tries to solve another murder in her beloved Orchard while keeping the gears clicking on her dream project."

Ruth is back and gearing up for the clock tower to finish restorations and have a celebration opening. She is an every-woman who notices details and connects dots. Ben Clover, the romantic interest, is distracted by his ex-wife's manipulations. Jeff Paisley, the by-the-book Chief of Police is put in the difficult position of having to officially question his Nancy (his girlfriend's mother). This is probably my favorite cop portrayal in any of the cozy's I have read. Becket, who has been a thorn in Ruth's back side since book one has a few surprises. Caroline, the step-grandmother is present but not much page time. Of course, Bezel, the shop cat deserves a mention since he gets a spotlight in the story.

The setting is a standard small town with the standard enclave of shops but you get more of the history of the City Hall which added to the overall feel of the town. Pacing keeps steady with the sub plots of dealing with ex-partners for both Ben and Ruth. The plot is solid cozy mystery with several suspects, all of whom you don't want to be the killer. The killer reveal was tame, but works since all the suspects were "nice" people.

I enjoyed my return to Orchard. It feels like visiting good friends and the story is entertaining. Win-win.Rating: Excellent - Loved it, it had a good grip on me! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In case you missed it, Random House bought Penguin (who publishes a whole lot of cozy mysteries) and has decided they will stop publishing a significant number of the series in their lineup. Not only is this short-sighted, those authors can become independently published authors and take their readership with them! But it is bad news for fans. Here is a list I understand is verified of what series are on the chopping block at this point:Penguin Random HouseAvery Aames - Cheese Shop mysteriesEllery Adams - Book Retreat and Charmed Pie Shoppe. May be moving to new publisher for Book Retreat.Beverly Allen - Bridal Bouquet Shop Mysteries (not renewed) Now writing Vintage Toyshop Mysteries for Crooked Lane as Barbara Early.Janet Bolin - Threadville MysteriesMelissa Bourbon -Magical Dressmaking. Is thinking of self publishing but not anytime soon. Source: Author's FB page.Jacklyn Brady - Piece of Cake mysteriesLucy Burdette - Key West Food Critic seriesAmanda Carmack - Kate Haywood Elizabethan mysteriesMaia Chance - Fairy Tale FatalErika Chase - Ashton Corners Peg Cochran - Gourmet DeLiteLaura DiSilverio - Mall CopMonica Ferris - Betsy Devonshire Needlework series. Is shopping for new publisher and has plans for future books.Christy Fifield - Haunted Souvenir. Owns rights, plans to self-publish. Shelley Freydont - Celebration BayEva Gates - Lighthouse Library (not renewed, possibly still hope). Is writing the Sherlock Holmes Bookstore and Emporium series for Crooked Lane under the name Vicki Delany. The year-Round-Christmas series by Vicki Delany is still continuing with Berkley. Kaye George/Janet Cantrell - Fat Cat mysteries (work for hire, cannot be continued by the author.)Rosie Genova - Italian Kitchen mysteriesVictoria Hamilton - Vintage Kitchen mysteries (she is continuing the series with another publisher, ebook only.)Mary Ellen Hughes - Pickled and Preserved mysteries. (She is starting a new series, the Keepsake and Collectibles mysteries, with Midnight Ink.)Sue Ann Jaffarian - Ghost of Granny Apples. (plans to write more and self pub.)Annie Knox - Pet BoutiqueElizabeth Lee (Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli) Nut Shop SeriesMeg London - Sweet Nothings LingerieMolly MacRae -- Haunted Yarn Shop (plans to continue the series)Leigh Perry - Family Skeleton. Shopping for a new publisher. UPDATE - Sid Lives!! Leigh has found a new publisher for the Family Skeleton series! 9/14/16Cate Price - Deadly NotionsPaige Shelton - Farmer's Market and Country Cooking SchoolChristine Wenger - Comfort Foods Mysteries (NAL, which was merged into Berkley); is considering self-publishing.FIVE STAR (Gale Cengage)Five Star has dropped their entire mystery lineup. Nancy Cohen - Bad Hair DayMaggie Toussaint - Dreamwalker Mysteries Susan Van Kirk- Endurance MysteriesLimitless PublishingA E H Veenman - Marjorie Gardens Mysteries (Limitless Publishing)KensingtonAnna Loan-Wilsey - Hattie DavishMacmillan / St. Martin's Press D.E. Ireland - Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins (switching publishers)If you would like to keep informed with news of this development, join the Facebook group "Save Our Cozies" (click here). This group was formed to centralize efforts to persuade Penguin Random House to reconsider their decision to cull their cozy mystery offerings. It also offers a place for authors to update their fans on future plans.

Monday, August 7, 2017

I am excited and happy that Rhys Bowen is joining us today She writes two mystery series that are each wonderful. She writes the Molly Murphy and the Royal Spyness mysteries. A little background about Ms. Bowen. Rhys was born in Bath, England, of a Welsh/English family, and educated at London University. She worked for the BBC in London, as an announcer then drama studio manager. She sang in folk clubs and also started writing her own radio and TV plays. She married and settled in the San Francisco area, where she has lived ever since, raising four children. (Although she now spends her winters in her condo in Arizona.)She gave us an interview in 2010 (click here.)

How my own experiences shape my characters.One of the good things about being a writer is that I can take episodes from my own life and foist them upon my characters. This works especially well for embarrassing events. Events that were mortifying to me: now I can laugh at them as I make poor Lady Georgie suffer with them.In my teens and twenties I had a checkered career. I studied at a drama school. I worked in BBC drama (an amazing experience working with top actors of the day. How many twenty-two year olds get to tell Sir John Gilguid where he is supposed to stand on the set?) I also sang in folk clubs. This was the Sixties, the age of folk music. I was friends with Al Stewart (of Year of the Cat fame) and through him I became a regular at a couple of folk clubs in London. And through him I met Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. They were also just starting out in their careers and sang at the same clubs, and also stayed at the same house in London, inhabited by a motley crew of young creative types. I was actually sitting with Al in a café late one night when Paul and Artie came to say goodbye. “We have to go back to America,” they said. “Our manager says our song Sounds of Silence is doing quite well.” A moment in history.Of course I can’t use the Sixties for Lady Georgie, but I did use another of my brief and not too successful careers. Modeling. I thought if I became a model it would give me time to write. I enrolled at a modeling school and then their, agency sent me out on a job. Modeling for a fashion house for their spring collection. I had to put on clothes quickly, come out and walk up and down. This went fine until I was given a strange garment. The skirt was long and very tight. I could hardly get it over my hips (and I was super skinny). It buttoned behind the neck. I started to walk out, taking tiny steps. That’s when I noticed something flapping beside me and realized it was culottes and I was in half of them! I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me but I had to walk all the way back again. So I made Lady Georgie suffer that same embarrassment, only she is modeling in front of Mrs. Simpson! How mortifying. Poor Georgie.In subsequent books I have inflicted more embarrassing moments upon her. However I have never found myself in such a pickle as happens to her in On Her Majesty’s Frightfully Secret Service, when she is trapped in a room with… Well, you’ll have to read the book to find out more. EnjoyRhys~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ THANK You Ms. Bowen. Oh my gosh, Al Stewart and Simon and Garfunkel. Very cool. I remember Georgie's failed modeling attempt. That was great to get a different insight into what Georgie suffers!

Friday, August 4, 2017

I reviewed the first in this series, Veiled Magic (click here), and was fortunate to have the author visits for an interview (click here). Today I am reviewing her newest in the series, Veiled Menace, featuring a witch police officer.

Author: Deborah Blake

Copyright: April 2017 (Intermix/Penguin) 285 pgs

Series: 2nd in Veiled Magic series

Sensuality: Mild/sprinkled cursing

Mystery Sub-genre: Paranormal Police Procedural

Main Character: Policewoman Donata Santori is a witch who talks to the dead.Setting: modern day, large seaside city (never named)

Obtained Through: Personal Purchase

From the book cover: "Witch and police officer Donata Santori is no stranger to magical mayhem, but lately her life has been unexpectedly charmed. Her job as a Ghost Yanker now includes the occasional paranormal investigation, and she’s advancing her magical abilities with the help of an ancestor’s treasured spell book. And while both of her former love interests—reclusive half-Dragon art forger Peter Casaventi and disgraced Shapechanger Magnus Torvald—are nowhere to be found, she’s not averse to being wined and dined by wealthy businessman Anton Eastman.

But Eastman isn’t what he seems, and what he wants from Donata is far more than she’s willing to give. When a mysterious relic, the Pentacle Pentimento, resurfaces, along with Peter’s Dragon father and a shocking Santori family secret, Donata must fight to save herself, her friends, and just maybe the fate of the world from a magic as old as it is dangerous…"

Donata, the black sheep of her powerful witch family because of her profession just may get some respect as she is on the forefront of whatever is coming. Peter Casaventi, the half-dragon art forger, displays his less attractive dragon pride and ego in this book. Peter's father, a dragon, wants Peter with a nice dragon girl - not a witch. That's not what gets him murdered though. Anton Eastman, who is dating Donata acts superior and self-centered, but he has worse qualities that come to light. We get to see more of the police chief and the Medical Examiner in this outing, which I enjoyed. Donata's mother and two sisters are elitist and judgmental, which I keep wondering when Donata-the-cop will have enough of their treatment. Ricky, the Kobold Earth Spirit with a temper is her loyal friend and a star in his own right.

I still don't know what city this takes place in, but it is seaside as the mansion Peter's father owns overlooks the beach and ocean. That was used particularly well with weather patterns taking drastic changes.

Ms. Blake keeps the pacing just right and the reader engaged, the plot in parts seems easy but then a little twist comes along putting everything in a new light. Donata's face off with the villain is deliciously suspenseful and the last paragraph leaves you anxious for the next book.

I like where Ms. Blake is going with this series, playing a longer game around a situation. That said, each can be read independently so far. I can easily see team Peter and team Magnus forming to cheer for the favorite guy to win Donata's heart. I must say that it isn't the typical love triangle, rather the guys come in and out of her life and each has his issues and baggage.

Rating: Excellent - Loved it, it had a good grip on me! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list

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A warm welcome to each and every guest, grab a cup of your favorite hot beverage and join me. This is a new blog for mystery lovers and fellow aspiring authors.

Monday's: musings on the mystery genre and writing craft and occasionally a progress report on the novel I am writing, some author interviews, book giveaways or blog tours depending on what I scare up.

Thursday's: Book review. "The writer reads in order to write." I do have a habit of finding already established series and starting with book one. So maybe you will be introduced to a new series in my reviews of the occasional older book. I recently added a recipe or video on Thursday's as well for added enjoyment.

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I’m a Colorado gal who loves the mountains and low bug population but hates the snow and cold. I have been a book worm from second grade and my first venture into writing stories was fourth grade.
I love pretty much all mysteries and those with a paranormal angle in particular. I look forward to sharing my adventures in reading with you.